Day 357: Walk On Water

Nice morning walk on the frozen lake. The ice is very thick. Crazy to think we went right across to the other side. Walk on water, baby! I love these smoke bombs, thanks Sean! You can find them at your local fireworks store or here on Amazon. Made a video and posted it on Instagram. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE It’s so quiet and peaceful out on the lake. The shifting ice makes these subsonic sounds that you can feel in your bones. With a shift in temperatures, ice moves, vibrating up and down, kind of like a drum or deep-sounding bass. It’s really cool to feel when you’re walking on it. Sometimes it’s loud and we can hear it from inside the cottage. How great is this jacket?! It’s Sean’s mum’s and has matching hot pink snow pants. I love it! Hi Lorna if you are reading this, miss you!

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Podcast: #WiththeJoneses – Episode 3 – The OG #Blondetourage

Last week, my bff  Lauren O’Nizzle and I were on the Jones Media Podcast – Keeping Up with the Joneses. It was super fun! If you know Lauren and I or have been on the internet for a long time, you’ll enjoy this. We talk a lot about influencers, brand partnerships, and how social media has changed over the 10 years we’ve been friends. This week on Keeping Up with the Joneses, we have Casie Stewart and Lauren Neil in conversation about starting as OG bloggers, tweet ups, their first paid gigs, how they transitioned into today’s influencer culture and tips for parents on how to engagement their kids in conversations about the internet.  Memory Lane – Stuff Mentioned in Podcast Thanks for tuning in! I’ve opened up comments on this post to feel free to leave one if while listening!

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Indecent Disclosure: ROACH BAIT

When I started blogging 10 years ago I had no idea it would turn into a thing. I knew about 3 bloggers in the WORLD and I merely started ‘THIS IS MY LIFE’ as a way to keep memories. In 2009 I was given my first products for review. I was contacted by Matchstick Marketing and tested out a Zune (that old MP3 thinger) and also a vibrating mascara from Maybelline. I popped into the washroom at my office to record this video of me testing the mascara. I told the world I was sent a product for review and they gave me some to share with friends.(See original 2009 post here.) I was digging through an old hard drive when I found a note I’d made about ‘roach bait’, no not an insect killer, the marketing ‘bait & switch’ used in undisclosed celebrity endorsements.  I’ve not heard about it since but it distinctly reminds me of what’s happened with blogging. Roach Bait n. A marketing message delivered by an actor posing as a regular person with the intention of having that message passed along to many other people. 2001 (earliest) Then, there’s the ‘roach bait’ technique. Under this scenario, the paid huckster doesn’t necessarily buy a drink for others. He’s often found sitting in a prime spot at a bar or club, very visibly drinking Brand X. He talks up the brand big-time in the hope the good word will spread. —Theresa Howard, “Freebies take on brash new form,” USA Today, May 15, 2001 Sound familiar? Bloggers and people with some achieved sphere of influence are constantly called upon by brands and agencies to eat, drink,  wear, and visit places with hopes the’ll share that experience online. The thing is, as a reader, observer, we never really know if the person is…

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all the better to see you with my dear

Matchstick & Maybelline sent me this massive tank of makeup about a month ago. Graciously shared heaps of it with girl friends cause there was so much. Really love the XXL PRO Curl mascara, makes my lashes massive. It is one of thse double ended ones with the white stuff you put on before the black stuff. Vibrating mascara is still my fav but this is a close second.

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the vibrator finally died

Remember last year when I got that big box of vibrating Mascaras? I’ll never forget that day… Well, the vibrator for it finally died this week. This mascara takes the cake as my favorite everyday of all the ones I tried in 2009. I gave a bunch of them to friends and we all loved it. So, given that it’s a little bit more expensive than what I usually buy, it’s totally worth it.  Now, I’m onto using Covergirl Lash Blast daily and Givenchy’s fancy blue one for special occasions.

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natural chic magnet

Last week I got a new mascara in the mail as a member of  Chick Advisor’s Product Review Club. ChickAdvisor is a girls resource for reviews and advice on stuff they like. It made my lashes longer. It’s  lite on your lashes, soft almost. It’s a good day mascara. I do two coats. It brushes on nicely. The brush is a combination between that skinny plastic kind d the fluffier brush one. My lashes feel soft and not all mascara-ish. I would use it again.  My current favorite is the vibrating mascara, it’s a bit more expensive. Twitter came out with lists yesterday. I made one list so far it is a growing collection of Toronto Blog Girls. I’m on a couple lists made by other including Toronto Twitterati, Social Community Alliance and Toronto Arts. I got a really lovely shout out this week from my penpal Hillzy on her blog.  Keep blogging sista! Big thanks to Two Belt & E1E ♥

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i wanna go away with you and lay under the stars

Check your email. Where’s that invite to the Prince Perry party on Friday? Can you make the dance show on Saturday? How is it already lunch time. Photo shoot at lunch today with Kelly. Did you remember makeup? OMG, it’s killer hot out too. Check the date, yep, the deadline for the contest that can win you $10,000 is today. Must make video tonight. They asked you to enter, so if you don’t it’s like you don’t want the money. You do. The reports are doubling numbers and now I need to run them again. My tires are low. Go see cute boy after work and get them pumped. It’s another sweltering hot day. I really miss Twitter in the office. It helps keep my mind on track. Like all my stupid/smart and random ideas I have more and more on days like today when I try to get so many things done. Without that they float around in my head road blocking all the things I actually need to get done. My phone is vibrating repeatedly. Why is my site being slow? It’s frustrating. Get  Hair done tomorrow. Stay on task stay on task. Hocus focus. Right now I wanna be in another country with a camera taking your picture. Kelly Krushel took all these photos of me today.  She is a movie still photographer in Toronto. You can check out her work here, see her tumblr here and follow her on Twitter.

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somebody’s got a case of the mondays

busy day today. woke up the sun on my face heating up the room. happy but a little sad it wasn’t a wellies day. had a pretty lazy weekend. slept all day saturday.  was really nice. was really tired too.  i didn’t go to mexico as you may have noticed. had a good reason to stay home. went to roastery in liberty village for lunch to tweet and facebook internet and made a couple 12 seconds videos. love the web cam laptop feature. could be dangerous. haha. was by my self for most the time and they was suprised by a you which was nice. unexpected. the girls and I had a nice afternoon yesterday. lazy with wine and girly chats. the vibrating mascara makes my lashes pretty. beautiful sunday it was. the rain was comforting and the sun peeked out a few times.i’m dying to watch annie hall., been going on for days now.  behind on writing things and getting back to people. tonight, i tell myself so it’s more likley to get done.  i hope my glasses arrive today. i feel like i get more work done when i wear glasses. focus. went to a jays game on friday. will update  about that experience later. was fun and met some cool people. i feel tired today but had a good sleep. must be the weather people always say. my dress makes today me look like a teacher.

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a brief interruption

In case you were wondering, or if you weren’t, I’m gonna tell you anyways.. I’m still vibrating my eyelashes every morning with the Maybelline mascara. The mascara is really quite good. Been a while since I actually liked one for the product vs. the price. Smelling ever so sexy in Givenchy Play.  Play comes out in August and features Justin Timberlake in sexy photos. Maybe you remember my sexy ones to match? I’ve got a new pair of prescription glasses on the way from Glasses USA thank-you-very-much. Black rimmed ones like an old man but good for a young lady. Tomorrow night is #Genyto at the London Tap house downtown. I’m looking forward to seeing smiling faces like the ones in this photo of @kathrynboland,@rlangdon, @MichelSavoie & @kevrichard . There will be lots of cool kids there. It’s Rayanne’s birthday too so look the fuck out. Someone on Twitter just said I look like Toni Collette bur more bitchin’. That’s hot.

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gearing up for the best party of the year dudes

Canadian Track and Field Champs last night, got a media pass (p.s. it’s cool to blog). I found it nerve wracking to watch a friend race. It was beautiful sitting there in the sun.  I love summer nights. I got to go on the track and I also got flowers because Jeff won a medal. Girls love getting flowers.  Baton Rouge for dinner was not really that good, I expected better. That’s what you get for setting expectations!I was thinking about making voice notes on my bike ride to work. I always have great ideas but typing on my non-qwerty keyboard while riding is like a deathtrap. God, Mum’s prolly having a heart attack thinking about that. I think it will be fun to voice note, upload. Morning ride podcast maybe. I was practicing chatting to myself this morning and enjoying it as I so often do. We’re good friends, me and my thoughts.  Haha, crazy person. There’s gonna be so much Michael Jackson at Pride this weekend. Wore Superman undies today, Spiderman yesterday and Big Bird the day before. Having a theme week I think…leading up to dancing in the street  & fun outfits all weekend.  I really hope it’s sunny on Sunday. It never rains on Pride. I think it’s all the positive energy and gayness that the universe joins forces with mother nature to keep the sun shining down on everyone.  Yeah, that’s my theory. I’m still using the vibrating mascara. I like it. If you wanna get a coupon for it and try it out Matchstick & Maybelline give you one here. My site’s been kinda slow lately and I’m gonna fix the baby and make some changes this weekend. Sorry, it bugs me too.  Lunch bike ride time.  Have a good day.

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